The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-08-27
Tint Trnnhlesnme Snrnlns.

should be the abolition of the intern
al revenue system. 1t is u war
measure. 1t is justiflable only Il p
on war grounds. The war having
ceased and the necessities for it.
having ceased, it should be discon-
tinued. The necessity
having ceased, all the taxes were
abolished except on whisky and to-
bacco. The Govern
ment did not impose tax on whis-
ky because it was whisky, but be-
cause it needed the revenue.--Cin.
Com. Gdzette.
There is not a word in the above
paragraphs, which are extracts
from column Of similar talk, that
expresses an idea that is new to
any one who has had an eye on the
policy which has controlled the leg
islation for several years past.
The surplus had been accumu-
lating for several years before the
Democrats came into power and
was the fruitful source of all sorts
of eXtravagant expenditures by
those whose duty it was to admin
lister the affairs of the State with
honesty and economy.
While the Republican party re-
mained in power, the journals of
the country, holding the political
faith of the Commercial Gazette, ut
tered no word of complaint.
Democratic members of Congress
and Democratic Senators busted
themselves with plans to reduce
the revenue and prevent the ac-
emulation, but were met by the
combined force of the Republicans
in the House and the Republican
majority in the Senate. who stood
like wall of adamant in the way
Of any reduction of taxes. Every
measure was met by their united
opposition and branded as an un-
necessary attack on American en-
terprise and American labor.
Now says the official mouthpiece
of Gov. Foraker: "There is a sur
plus of revenue that menaces in
dustries." Granted. But what
are you going to do about it? Why,
says the G. G.. "abolish the internal
revenue" for the reason that the
"war having ceased the internal
revenue should be abolished. 1t is
true that the war ended more than
twenty years ago. 1t it true that
the system of internal revenue was
devised to meet the extraordinary
expenses of the war, but who will
maintain, that because the sound
of the cannon and the rattle of
has ceased the necessity
for such revenues has ended. The
war debt or portion of it still ex-
lists while host Of MANNED wound
ed and disabled veterans whose
comfort and support in great
measure depends on the regular
and prompt payment of pensions,
and therein is a large and compar-
atively permanent source of eXpen-
ses that legitimately belong to the
war, and so long as this expense
exists it may legitimately met by
any reasonable system of internal
taxation. Again, the present rate
of tariff taxation is as much war
measure as are the internal taxes,
while the oppression of the tariff is
in many particulars much more of
"menace" to industries than the
existing internal taxes. The whole
list of provisions both animal and
vegetable are taxed from 20 to 50%
al calorun, all cotton and flax
goods are bearing an average bur-
den of 1919, and all classes of wool.
en- goods entering into clothing are
increased fully one-half in price
while one half Of every dollar paid
by the house wife for sugar to rem
der palatable the food she cooks, is
the result of the tax gatherer's art
and all this has been patiently born
by the people for Il quarter of cen.
tury, because of the war and its
stupendOus cost. Good reason
sound common sense and enlighten.
ed craftsmanship, suggest that
these burdens should continue n(
longer than necessary for the pur
poses for which they were imposed
and now that the necessity for sucl
enormous taxation no longer eX
lists, the Republican party led by
the G. G. and Foraker demand the
removal of the tax from whisky
and tobacco as the only proper ant
adequate remedy for the accumu
lation of the useless millions in tn,
Treasury. The Democratic plaI
is to relieve first the necessarie
of the people from the burden o
war taxes. Choose between then
and be just to yourself and neigh
Dor.